Use of games and game-like activities in teaching English to different age groups

 
 
CONCLUSIONS 
 
The choice of the most appropriate teaching method, games and game-like activities has 
a significant importance to learners in different age groups; it is crucial to the learning 
process. Among many different methods and ideas for teaching English, some of them are 
perceived as truly successful and efficient. The teacher‟s role is to find and tailor the best one 
and conform it to the particular learners‟ age.
The most effective ideas for teaching young learners are based on the TPR method. Its 
techniques and use of games and game-like activities constitute perfect conditions to acquire 
the language. Thanks to the briskness, appearing in most examples of games and game-like 
activities used in TPR method, children have the possibility to play, have fun and learn. What 
is more, pupils learn not because they have to but because they want to. 
Teaching teenagers seems to be more challenging but equally rewarding. During the 
period of transition between childhood and adulthood, adolescents look for their identity and 
want to be as independent as possible. Thanks to some games and game-like activities, they 
are able to develop their creativity and increase their self-esteem. IT is rather difficult to 
motivate them, therefore, games have to be absorbing and related to the students‟ interests. 
1
Adapted from New English File upper-intermediate Teacher‟s book by Oxenden et al. 2008: 221,225; (See 
Appendix 4) 
2
Adapted from New English File upper-intermediate Teacher‟s book by Oxenden et al. 2008: 195,213; (See 
Appendix 5) 

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World Scientific News 7 (2015) 112-135
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Adults represent the group of students who exactly know what they want to achieve. 
Although most of them are rather highly motivated the need to diversify English lessons is 
still necessary. Quizzes based on general knowledge cause the improvement of students‟ 
language skills. Their life experience helps with the tasks, in which they have to describe 
specific situations or people.
In conclusion, appropriate teaching methods, techniques but also, really useful and 
effective, games and game-like activities are indispensible element of English language 
lessons. All of these components conduce to successful process of learning. That is why it is 
important to select them thoroughly and reasonably in terms of learners‟ abilities adapted to 
the particular age group.